Gripping device



F. BLACKBURN GRIPPING DEVICE Filed May 3, 1959 mvgmozz. [QM/z Cm ii/aw A TTOR NE Y.

Patented May 21 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in object-gripping devices and is directed more particularly to the provision of a novel device for gripping and facilitating the picking up of objects 5 such as hot plates, canning jars and the like.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a household tool which is simple in form and economical to manufacture so as to be capable of easy and eflicient manipulation by a housewife and inexpensive to buy. As special features, the device in its preferred form has adjustable parts so as to adapt it for use with objects of various sizes.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an object-engaging device having relatively-movable jaw members and so arranged that the device may be carried in and manipulated by the same one hand.

Various other novel features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter more fully referred to in connection with the accompanying description of the preferred form of the invention, reference being had to the drawing, wherein: r

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of the invention with dot-dash lines to show how the device may grip a dish;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a section of the device of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of certain parts of the device of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view to explain 35 how the device engages a dish or the like; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevational view showing how the perating rod may be connected to the forward jaw member.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail,

40 the invention will be fully described.

What I call a support member 2 is relatively elongated and preferably has a handle part 4 on its inner end. The member 2 may be formed of flat steel and, according to the preferred em bodiment of the invention, has a series of spaced notches 6 in its lower side as shown.

Pivoted to the forward part of the bar 2 is a forward jaw member having spaced converging jaw parts 8. These may be formed in various ways but in the form shown consist of metal strips at opposite sides of member 2 with a pivot pin Ill extending therethrough.

Preferably there is a rivet or other securing means l2 joining the parts 8 together. Thus the jaw parts will move on the pivot as a unit.

Some means such as spring M is associated with the pivot In so as to urge the forward jaw member outwardly. The dot-dash lines in Fig. 1 show the position said jaw member takes when moved inwardly on its pivot.

Extending rearwardly or inwardly from the forward jaw member is a rod l6 which has its forward end preferably attached to the rivet l2. The inner end of the rod may have a ring l8 for receiving a finger of the operator although other 10 manually-engageable means may be provided. As shown in Fig. 6 the forward end of rod l6 has an eye l6 about a bushing l2 on rivet l2. The bushing holds the members 8 in spaced relation.

Preferably the rod is disposed below and in 15 a plane with the bar 2. This is for purposes of convenience and appearance, however, and it is to be understood that it could be otherwise located, it only being desirable that means be provided adjacent the handle 4 so that the forward 0 jaw member could be caused to swing on its pivot by manipulation of the same hand which is holding the device by the handle.

An inner or rear jaw member is also provided and this is disposed intermediate the handle and 25 forward jaw member; Preferably it has jaw parts 20 formed like the parts 8 but, of course, converging in the opposite direction.

Thus, it will be appreciated, an object, such as a dish or the like represented by dot-dash lines 30 D, may be engaged at four spaced points as shown in Fig. 5. The shape of the jaw parts 8 and 20 may, of course, vary and it will be obvious that by releasing the rod [6, the spring M will cause the forward jaw member to move away 35 from the rear one so as to disengage the object whatever it may be.

According to the preferred form of the invention the inner jaw member is slidable relative to the bar. Thus the distance between the jaws 8 and jaws 20 may be varied so as to accommodate objects of different diameters, or sizes.

In the form shown, the parts 2i} are secured, as by rivets 22, to a member 24 slidable on bar 2. A latch member 26 is pivoted to either the slide 24 or between the parts 28 as shown at 28 and this is adapted to engage itself in any one of the notches 6 and hold the inner jaw member against movement relative to the bar 2 when the device is in use.

Preferably a spring such as 3!! urges the latch 26 into the notch selected. There may be a projecting part 32 on the latch to facilitate manual movement thereof out of engagement in the notches when it is desired to slide the member 5 desired shape and not injured by hot dishes and the handle i may be of wood but it is not desired to be limited to specific materials.

If desired there may be a stop to prevent the forward jaw parts 8 from swinging upwardly too far when the rod 56 is released. In the. form shown this consists of a pin 34 extending between ears formed on parts Sand this is adapted to engage the upper side of the bar 2,

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to the present preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated'by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A gripping device of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated support having a handle on its rear end, a unitary jaw member including a tubular body part which receives and is slidable on said support forwardly of said handle and a hook part which depends downwardly therefrom, another unitary jaw member including a body part which is pivoted to said support forwardly of the first-named jaw member and a hook part which depends downwardly therefrom, said hook parts being directed towards one another, and a rod extending below said support, the forward end part of said rod being attached to the second-named jaw member and the rear end thereof being disposed closely adjacent said handle but free of attachment therewith.

2. A gripping device of the class described com- 'prising in combination, an elongated support having a handle on its rear end, a unitary jaw member including a tubular body part which receives and is slidable on said support forwardly of said handle and a hook part which depends downwardly therefrom, another unitary jaw member including a body part which is pivoted to said support forwardly of the first-named jaw member and a hook part which depends downwardly therefrom, said hook parts being directed towards one another, a rod extending below said support, the forward end part of said rod being attached to the second-named jaw member and the rear end thereof being disposed closely adjacent said handle but free of attachment therewith, means associated with said support and the firstnamed jaw member whereby the, latter may be releasably held against sliding movements relative to said support including a plurality of spaced notches in the lower side of said support and a latch member having its lower end pivoted to said first-named jaw member and member including a body part which is pivoted to said support forwardly of the first-named jaw member and a hook part which depends downwardly therefrom, said hook parts being directed towards one another, a rod extending below said support, the forward end part of said rod being attached to the second-named jaw member and the rear end thereof being disposed closely adjacent said handle but free of attachment therewith, and spring means associated with said sup port and the second-named jaw member urging the latter away from the first-named jaw member.

4. A gripping device of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated support having a handle on its rear end, a unitary jaw member including a tubular body part which receives and is slidable on said support forwardly of said handle and a pair of spaced hook parts which depend downwardly from opposite sides of.

said body part, a pair of spaced hook parts having their upper ends pivoted to said support at opposite sides thereof forwardly of said jaw member and their lower end portions directed towards the first-named'hook parts, and a rod extending below said support, the forward end of said rod being secured between the second-named pair of hook parts and the rear end thereof being disposed closely adjacent said handle and the portion of said rod intermediate its said ends extending between the first-named pair of hook parts. I

5. A gripping device of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated support having a handle on its rear end, a unitary jaw member slidable on said support forwardly of 1 saidhandle and having a pair of spaced downwardly-depending hook parts, a pair of spaced hook parts having their upper ends pivoted to opposite sides of said support forwardly of said jaw member and their lower end portions directed 1 towards the first-named hook parts, a shaft extending between the second-named pair of hook parts below the pivotal connection with said sup port, and a rod extending below said support, the rear end of said rod being disposed closely adjacent said handle and its forward end being attached to said shaft, and the portion of said rod intermediate its said ends extending between the first named pair of hook parts. I

FELIX BLACKBURN. 

